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Richard G. Silverman West Bloomfield, MI QCWA # 21990 Chapter 61 |
Richard Gary Silverman K8NKB succumbed Saturday January 19, 2008 after a long illness. Graveside Services were held the next day at Beth Tefilo Emanuel with arrangements by Hebrew Memorial Chapel. Dick grew up in Detroit and graduated from Mumford High School in 1961. His family moved to Oak Park where he lived until moving to Menorah House nursing home this year. We met Dick in 1979 when we started becoming active in the Oak Park ARC. Dick's personality allowed him to stand out in a crowd. I remember his passion for the club and its members. If anyone needed something done, he was right there. His only shortcoming was being too kind. I think there might be one or two of us in the ham community that can think back and remember taking advantage of his kindness. Richard embodied the Yiddish meaning of the word “mench”. His obituary, written by a cousin does not give us a clue as to his character. It seemed as though the writer really did not even know him. Richard, “Dick”, to most of us that knew him, graduated in 1961 from Detroit’s Mumford High School. He lived with both his parents until the late 70’s when his father passed away. He then continued to live with his mother, taking care of her until her death sometime in the 90’s. His family lived in a duplex and his Aunt occupied the top floor. After his mothers passing he took care of his Aunt until she also passed on a few years back. Afterwards Dick lived alone until he became so ill he was forced to move to Menorah House where he lived for the past year until he passed away at the age of 64. Dick held several jobs throughout his life. He was a police dispatcher, and Emergency Medical Technician, a drug store clerk, and he worked in an electronics parts store just to name a few of his jobs. Dick was devoutly religious. He practiced Judaism by attending Saturday services at his Synagogue regularly. He also was available for daily services and rushed over to the synagogue many days to help make up the minyan. He made himself available for other synagogue functions such as Brises and Funerals as they too needed a minyan. Just keeping up with the previously mentioned activities would have been a lot for most men to take on, but Dick was an active participant in his City.
He served on Hazel Park Amateur Radio Club, P.O. Box 368, Hazel Park, MI 48030 www.hparc.org many of the boards for the City of Oak Park. He was at one time a member of the Cable Television Advisory Committee. He served on the Beautification Committee and also the Emergency Services Council.
He was a member of the Oak Park Civil Defense Amateur Radio group and became the RACES Radio officer for the City of Oak Park. He was also active with the City of Southfield Civil Defense Radio group and was a Parking Enforcement Officer for both Southfield and the City of Oak Park. Dick belonged to the FOPA Lodge 130 and helped out with many of the Lodges functions. Larry Szymanski (Chaplain) said that Richard was a member of the Lodge for either 23 or 24 years. He was on these committees: Bingo, Family Picnic, Family Christmas and Santa Visitation for special children. He also helped with the zoo outing for our special children. He was very active in the Lodge or at least present, he will be missed by all.
When Dick was a sophomore at Mumford High he got interested in Amateur Radio and got his first license back in 1958. He continued studying and while still in school Jerry Begel mentored him until he obtained his General class license before graduation in 1961. Dick learned more and more about Ham Radio and eventually acquiring the highest-class license available to Hams, the Extra Class License. His call K8NKB was heard on many of the local Detroit repeaters. He helped to start the Detroit Area Repeater Team (DART 146.640) and the Oak Park Amateur Radio Club. He was the Oak Park club’s president for many years. He was also active in the Catalpa and Hazel Park Clubs. Dick was present at almost every parade, walkathon, race or event that needed Ham radio for communications.
He was involved with the Oakland County ARPSC and skywarn. For many years he was net control operator for the skywarn nets. He was a Life member of the ARRL and was very proud of the fact that he was licensed for 49 years.
He belonged to the QCWA and would have received a 50- year award certificate from them this year. Dick embodied the public spirit of Amateur Radio. We first met Dick on the air on the DART repeater when we first moved to Oak Park in the 70’s. Dick instantly befriended our family. He helped us out often and was always ready to assist at any time.
When we had occasion to take our children to the hospital for emergency treatment, Dick came along to aid us. Dick attended many of our family life functions including my oldest son’s wedding.
He was truly a great friend. We will miss him and
miss hearing his
familiar “This is K8NKB” on the repeaters.
73 my friend
John K8UP and Marsha N8FE Fleming
